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Sieh, die Glockenmänner sind am Schlagen! Zitternd von der warmen Luft getragen Folgen unentrinnbar allerwege Uns die schonungslosen Stundenschläge. Stille Liebe, gib mir deine Hände Noch einmal! Der Zauber ist zu Ende, Dem wir folgten so viel süße Gänge Durch der Gassen und Kanäle Enge. Morgen muß ich diese schmalen Gassen Und die Stadt und dich und alles lassen, Muß zurück in meinen wolkendunkeln Norden, wo die bleichen Gletscher funkeln, Wo man deiner Sprache reiches Tönen Nicht versteht und nichts versteht vom Schönen, Noch von Klang noch Freude. Dunkle Lose Warten meiner in der Heimat Schoße. Bei des Herdes Licht in wachen Nächten Werd ich Kränze weher Lieder flechten Um dein Bildnis, werde traurig träumen Von den leuchtenden Lagunensäumen, Von den Tagen, deren weiches Gleiten Niemals störte unsre Seligkeiten, Die so still und lachend uns beglückten, Die mit Küssen wir und Liedern schmückten. Tief im Traume wird mich dann zuweilen Deiner schönen Stimme Klang ereilen Venezianische Koseworte sagend, Allen Duft des schönen Damals tragend. Und ich werde mit verborgenen Tränen Mich nach dir und nach Venedig sehnen ... -- Gondoliere, nach San Vio! -- Müde Schweigt die Glocke. Gib mir die verblühte Gelbe Rose noch aus deinen Haaren! Und nun wollen wir nach Hause fahren.
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 87-88.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), no title, written 1902, appears in Unterwegs, in Venezianische Gondelgespräche, no. 6, first published 1911 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Richard Maux (1893 - 1971), "Sieh, die Glockenmänner sind am Schlagen!", op. 181 no. 16 (1927), published 1941 [ high voice or medium-high voice and piano ], from Italische Reise, no. 16 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Lo, the bell-ringers are at their tolling", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Vois, les sonneurs sont au travail !", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-05-24
Line count: 34
Word count: 202
Lo, the bell-ringers are at their tolling! Carried tremblingly by the warm breeze, The relentless strokes of the hours Inescapably follow us everywhere. Silent Love, give your hands Once more! The magic is at an end, [The magic] that we followed through so many sweet walkways, Through the streets and the narrowness of the canals. Tomorrow I must leave these narrow streets And the city and you and everything, Must return to my cloud-darkened North, Where the pale glaciers sparkle, Where one does not understand the rich Sounding of your language, and understands nothing of Beauty nor tone nor joy. Dark destinies Await me in the womb of my homeland. Beside the light of my hearth in wakeful nights I shall twine wreaths of pain-filled poems Around your image, shall dream sadly Of the shining shores of the lagunas, Of the days whose soft flowing Never troubled our bliss, [Days] that gladdened us so silently and laughingly, Which we adorned with kisses and songs. Now and then, deep within my dreams, The sound of your lovely voice, speaking Caressing Venetian words, shall catch me up, Bearing all the scent of the beautiful days back then. And with concealed tears I shall yearn for you and for Venice . . . -- Gondolier, to San Vio! -- Wearily The bell falls silent. Give me yet the wilted Yellow rose from your hair! And now let us ride home.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), no title, written 1902, appears in Unterwegs, in Venezianische Gondelgespräche, no. 6, first published 1911
This text was added to the website: 2019-05-30
Line count: 34
Word count: 235